Five reasons why the Indonesian election matters to Australia. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will hold the planet’s biggest one-day election on February 14. Australia, which has a vested interest in a prosperous and peaceful Indonesia, has to hope the optimists will be proved right. (Australian Financial Review)

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In the News

  • UWA researchers analyse the impact of major rail project in Indonesia. Men were likely to experience the largest negative short-term impacts with substantial changes in income or business opportunities – but we found that the shake-up would provide opportunities for women to diversify income sources and ease household burdens (University of Western Australia)
  • Bali is imposing a tourist tax on visitors from February 14. Here’s what you need to know. People who travel to other Indonesian provinces will not have to pay the tax.  (ABC News)
  • Smart Traveller issues new warning as massive Indonesian election heats up. It’s Australia’s most popular holiday destination, but a fresh warning has been issued for travellers to exercise a high degree of caution. (News.com.au)
  • Welcoming the Lunar New Year 2024 – the year of the Dragon! Recommendation to have Lunar New Year Festivals in Australia and other dinner spots to celebrate with your family. (Sydney.com & Australian Traveller)

Tune In

  • Big Business in Indonesia – Conglomerates are the main players in the Indonesian economy, controlling core industries like agribusiness, banking and property and telecommunications. To help us understand how Indonesian big business has transformed Indonesia and is now reshaping our region, Jacqui Baker chats with Faris Al Fadhat, Senior Lecturer in the Department of International Relations at the Muhammadiyah University Yogyakarta. Tune in here.
  • Hirzi Putra Laksana, Editor-in-Chief of What is Up Indonesia? (WIUI) talks to The Perantau Podcast about how they inspire young Indonesians, especially those abroad, to actively engage in politics. Tune in here.

Events

  • JOIN AIYA FLEX – our online language exchange is open to anyone with any level of Indonesian and English! It is held monthly on the first Sunday of the month at 12pm WIB/4pm AEDT. Join FLEX here.
  • JOIN AIYA LANGUAGE EXCHANGE (IN-PERSON or ONLINE!) LX is back in multiple locations across Australia. Connect, chill, and converse with like-minded youth, meet new friends and engage in cross-cultural exchange. Make sure to follow your local chapter on Instagram for updates on the next LX event near you!
  • Join AIYA ACT’s weekly Gamelan classes every Monday, 6-8pm, in the ANU School of Music, Room 680!
  • AIYA, check respective chapter social media for more details
    • Jawa barat – Animal Papercraft, is having its first LX in Feb on 18 Feb 2024, 2PM WIB at Dreezel cafe, Dago Atas, Bandung.
    • NTT – LX (theme: Music) on 24 Feb 2024, 3-4.30PM WITA at ABC Room – Undana Student Centre.
    • Western Australia – Relaunch Celebration on 26 Feb 2024, at consulate General of Indonesia in Perth.
  • Malam Sastra, Bahas cerpen, diskusi tentang UBUD writers & readers festival. Online or at Balai Kartini 8 Darwin Ave Yarralumla, ACT 2600. Please register before 16/02/2024 here.
  • Bali Spirit Festival has become a major crowd puller thus strengthening cultural vibrancy, and overall vitality of Bali and greater Indonesia. The 4-day mega event will begin from 1 May and will end on 5 May, 2024. So if you are looking for Classical Hatha Yoga, traditional Javanese dance and more, then Bali Spirit Festival is the perfect place for you. Book your ticket ASAP here and check the terms and conditions here for further details.
  • Australia Indonesia Business Council (AIBC) and AMEC (Association of Mining and Exploration Companies) are pleased to bring Queensland members and friends involved in mining, METS, critical minerals and the battery value chain to collaborate, share insights and explore opportunities for partnership and investment a networking event on 22nd February in Brisbane, 5-7.30pm AEST. Register your interest here.

Opportunities

  • AIYA Blog accepts open and roll submissions from Indonesians and Australians about anything to do with the bilateral relationship?
    • Share with us your story of any study exchange or working holiday in Australia, fun facts about Bahasa Indonesia or English, review a book, a movie, a TV show or another piece of media related to Indonesian or Australian culture,  policy and law developments between the two countries that you want to explore with an engaged audience of AIYA Blog readers.
    • Maybe you have an idea but you’re not sure how to write it? You can also pitch ideas to our blog editors and they will workshop your article with you! 
    • Please email your submission to [email protected] and one of our amazing editors will work with you to get your work published on the AIYA Blog. 
    • Submissions are open in both English and Bahasa Indonesia.
  • Apply for an Australia Awards Scholarship, experience a world-class education and become an agent of change for the development!  The groups comprise people with disability, women from disadvantaged backgrounds and individuals from equity target provinces. Applications close on 30 April 2024 at 20.59 WIB. Applying is now even easier through a single application form at this link.
  • Koneksi are looking for dedicated and highly skilled professionals to join the KONEKSI team. Are you passionate about forging strong relationships with key stakeholders, overseeing activities and delivering high-quality technical assistance and presenting our research portfolio to our government partners? Currently we’re opening two vacancies in the stakeholder division. Apply here by 18 February 2024 COB (05.00 PM, Western Indonesia Time)
  • NAILA  is currently looking for passionate individuals who are interested in the positions of: Partnerships Officer, Communications Officer, and Language Officer. Please refer to the position descriptions for those positions here and here and apply via. Applications close Monday 12th February 2024.
  • Australia Government (Trade and Investment Commission) is looking for Senior Investment Director  as part of Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. This program will operate from 1 January 2024 to 30 June 2027. Applications close at 11:30pm, Sunday, 25 February 2024 (Western Indonesian time).
  • ACICIS is looking for Human Resources Coordinator (HRC)!. The HRC will be responsible for or designing and implementing HR strategies and practices that promote the cultivation of a positive team ethos and work culture among ACICIS’ Indonesia-based staff, and that contribute to ACICIS’ overall organisational development in Indonesia. Submit your application here by the latest 25 February 2024. 
  • Development Intelligent Lab is looking for Project Assistant. The primary purpose of this position is to support The Lab to implement its programme of activities and assist in the day-to-day running of the organisation. The position will also support the delivery of the Pulse Check project. See here for more details
  • GoFundMe page has been set up for  Alifia Soeryo’s family, the victim of the recent tree incident in North Adelaide. Feel free to donate here
  • Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) is looking for a Policy and Advocacy Research Intern with flexible working 4-12 weeks and able to start on 25 March. Apply here before 25 Feb.
  • UNESCO is opening a vacancy for a Senior Programme Specialist (Natural Sciences) position with 2 years fixed term contract in Jakarta. Drop your application here before 27 Feb.
  • Asia Education Foundation (AEF) is currently seeking EOI for Australian schools who would like to partner with Indonesian schools through the DFAT-funded 2024 Australia-Indonesia BRIDGE program. Applications open until 17 March 2024 for both IDN and AUS schools. For more information click here.
  • SKALA internship round 1 is now open. Round 1 Application and Selection: January-February. Each internship cycle is expected to be of 3-months in duration Internship period: April-June. More information here.
  • Online internships are a great way to gain experience to include on your CV while fitting in with your other life commitments. Gain intercultural competence and important skills to get ahead in your career. A lot of vacancies wait for you ahead and don’t miss the opportunity. Apply by 25 February to start in March 2024. Click here. 
  • Join Prospera talents community and become a part of a thriving network of professionals like you! Sign up today by dropping your CV here and shape the future with Prospera!
  • Australia Awards in Indonesia plans to deliver the following short courses by the end of 2024. The course providers will be selected through open tenders (separate tender for each course), except for the repeated courses. The 2-week courses will be delivered in Australia and each course has 1-2 workshops in Indonesia. The opening application dates for each course will be determined in consultation with DFAT. Check the detailed course and availability regularly here.
  • ANU is offering a course on introduction to Indonesia’s economy and policy environment. This is a chance to learn from world experts on the Indonesian economy in a two-day intensive course. More info here.
  • Australian Volunteers is temporarily suspending overseas placements but are continuing to support partner organisations through remote volunteering. If you’re interested in volunteering in-country then check-out a range of opportunities here.
  • DFAT has established the Emerging Markets Impact Investment Fund (EMIIF) which seeks to support development ideas across the Indo-Pacific region. If you have a bright development idea consider applying for support here.
  • Inside Indonesia is looking for a reliable volunteer to help with uploading a few articles to the website every couple of weeks. Please send your interest to [email protected].
  • KIAT (Kemitraan Indonesia Australia untuk Infrastruktur) is opening various employment opportunities and current tenders. Find out here. KIAT works with its government partners across Indonesia to deliver a range of large and small projects to improve access to infrastructure for all Indonesians.
  • The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) helps grow Australia’s prosperity by delivering quality trade and investment services to businesses, accelerates growth in Australia’s tourism sector and promotes Australia’s education to the world. Find a list of  available vacancies here.
  • The Australian Government is receiving applications for the Working Holiday Maker program that allows young adults to have a 12 month holiday, during which they can undertake short-term work and study. More info here
  • The Jakarta Bintangs is an Australian Football Club with membership open to anyone, beginners are most welcome. The club organises games throughout the year, mostly in Jakarta, with occasional games across Indonesia and overseas. Tours are planned to Bali, Batam, Vietnam and Thailand this year. Training is mostly held at Lapangan Bola Aldiron in Jakarta on Saturday or Sunday afternoons. On occasion, training sessions are also held Thursday nights in the GBK complex. To keep up to date with the training schedule follow them on Instagram @jakartabintangs, or contact Han on 081119337855. For more information click here.

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